Fire-escape apparatus.



J. NOVAK.

FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1914.

1,1 17,695, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1914.

Patented NOV. 17, 1914.

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J. NOVAK.

FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14,1914.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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' J i1 TED STATES PATENT @FFIQFQ.

JOHN NOVAK, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-ESCAPE APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Joan NOVAK, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Newark, in the county. of ltssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escape Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fire escape apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to be carried by the fire department for use in rapidly removing occupants from burning buildings through the upper windows thereof.

A further object is to provide a flexible chute normally wound upon a drum and adapted to be carried by a hose carriage or other apparatus of the fire department and operated by the firemen, the device being readily attached to the window sill of a building whereby the occupants may readily enter the chute and descend to the ground.

A still further object is to provide a flexible chute readily positionable between a window and the ground and having a detaching latch whereby the chute is readily disengaged from the window after its active operation as a fire escape.

lVith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in its operative position, illustrated as affording communication between one of the upper windows of a building and the ground. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the winding mechanism with the ropes and chute broken away. Fig. 3 is a central transverse vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. at is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the chute with the suspending levers and lock casing in section. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the lock casing and lock. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the lock casing and levers. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1914.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Serial No. 850,908.

drum locking pin detached, and, Fig. 9 is a snnilar perspective view of one of the rope anchors employed with the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1t will be noted that the invention broadly consists in a flexible chute 10 provided upon a winding drum 11, which drum is operated by a crank 12 that is journaled in opposite standards 13 of a movable base or block 14:, the chute being designed to have its free end supported by a window sill, such as 15 of a building 16 in the event of a fire occurring within the building.

The chute 10 is provided with a bracket 17 at its free end and has secured thereto at the opposite sides of the chute the free ends of hand ropes 18 which are preferably positioned through side loops 19 of thechute, provided thereon at suitable intervals and then wound upon auxiliary winding drums 20 also journaled in the standards 13 of the base. lVhen the chute is positioned in engagement with the window sill in its active operation, the side ropes 18 are co-extensive with the unwound portion of the chute and the ends of said ropes are firmly wound around the anchor pins 21 which are positioned through the desired opposite side perforations22 of the main drum 11, the anchors being positioned inwardly of the drum sides as best illustrated in Fig. l. When the chute is so positioned, locking pins are placed through the desired ones of said openings 2:2 from the outer sides of the drum so as to engage with the adjacent standards 13 as illustrated in Fig. 2, by which means it will be apparent that a further turning of the drum 11 is rendered impossible and the hand ropes 18 will be serviceably positioned at each side of the chute for assisting persons in descending by means of the same.

Supporting means is provided for the upper end of the chute and consists of a lock casing 52% securely fastened to the rear face of the chute at the upper end thereof. In the top '26 of this casing there is pivoted a pair of levers 25, each provided with a downwardly-extending lug 27. Within the casing is a lock-bar 28 which is slidably mounted therein and normally held in looking position in back of the lugs 27 by a spring 29 attached at one end to the lockbar and at its other end to the casing. The top of the casing is partially surrounded by a bracket 30 within which the levers 25 are adapted-to move. In applying the device to a window sill, a plurality of hooks 32 are hooked over the sill and double cords 31 which are secured to the top of the chute 10 are positioned through the loops 32 of said hooks and have their looped ends 33 recelving the levers 25 within the loops thereof, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. With the cords looped around the levers 25, the lock bar 28 may be withdrawn by pulling upon a rope 34 secured thereto. When the lock bar 23 18 released, the spring 29 returns it to lockmg position, and to reset the device it is only necessary to pull down on the outer ends of the levers 25, the cam faces 32 depresslng lock bar 28 until they pass out of engage ment therewith, whereupon the spring 29 draws the lock bar up in back of the lugs 27 and again locks the levers 25, the loops 33 of cords 31 are engaged over the levers 25 and the device is again in operative position, being supported by the cords 31 and sill hooks 32.

The rope 34 is wound upon a drum 35 which latter has its outer side provided with teeth 36 for meshing with the teeth 37 of the adjacent side of the drum 11 while a similar engagement of the teeth 37 is provided for similar teeth 38 of the outer side of the double drum 20.

A. cable 39 has its free end secured to a ring 40 in the free end of the chute l0 and is run through one of the sill hook rings 32 and then passes to the ground and is adapted to be wound upon a drum 41 positioned adjacent the drum 35 and freely journaled upon the shaft 42 common to both of sa1d drums 35 and 41. When desired a pin 43 may be positioned through the adjacent sides of the drums 35 and 41, thereby locking the said drums together, so that a turning of the drum 35 bv means of the crank 12 will also turn the rum 41,

It is to be understood that the entire device is to form a part of the fire apparatus of the fire department and that when not in use, all of the ropes, cords and the chute are completely wound upon their respective drums so that the device assumes a compact form and is readily transferred from one place to another. When desired for use and positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the occupants of the building may easily enter the top of the chute from the adjacent open window and can readily descend to the ground, controlling such descent by grasping the hand ropes l8. .Vhen winding up or unwinding the device, the pin 43 may be positioned in place as illustrated in Fig. 4, for allowing the crank 12 to operate all of the winding drums but the pin 43 should be removed as soon as the device is operatively positioned. When desired to lower the chute, the cable 39 is pulled for slightly elevating the device and relieving the tension from the levers 25 whereupon the rope 34 is pulled for releasing the levers 25 and then the Weight of the device will open the released levers and allow the entire device to fall to the ground, it being noted that the cable 39 will unwind from its drum 41 which has been released as heretofore described. The device is then readily wound upon the winding drum by the firemen and is ready to be again transferred by the department. The hooks 32 may be provided in any numbers and may be supplied in pairs at each time the apparatus is employed or the same may be removed from the window sill after the device has been disconnected therefrom. It is to be noted that the chute 10 is preferably formed of non-combustible material, such as asbestos while the same as well as the ropes may be coated with a fire-resisting substance. Guy ropes 44 may be hooked into the loops 19 of the chute for the purpose of steadying the device by the firemen positioned upon the ground.

While the forms of the invention herein shown and described are what are believed to be preferable embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that various forms, modifications and arrangements of the parts as shown may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

hat I claim as new is 1. A fire apparatus comprising a flexible fireproof chute, a drum upon which said chute is adapted to be wound, means for det-achably securing the free end of said chute to a window sill, hand ropes marginally positioned upon the unwound portion of the chute, a double drum upon which said hand ropes are wound, operative connections be tween said drums, and means for revolving said chutereceiving drum.

2. A fire apparatus comprising a flexible fire-proof chute, a drum upon which said chute is adapted to be wound, means for detachably securing the free end of said chute to a window sill, hand ropes marginallypositioned upon the unwound portion of the chute, a double drum upon which said hand ropes are wound, operative connections between said drums, means for revolvingsaid chute receiving drum, anchoring pins for said hand ropes carried by said chutereceiving drum, locking pins for said chutereceiving drum, side loops upon said chute, and guy ropes hooked into the said loops.

3. A device of the class described comprising a flexible chute, winding means for said chute positionable upon the ground, hooks adapted for engaging a window sill and detachablv secured to the free end of said chute, means operable from the ground for releasingthe connection between said hooks and chute, an elevating cable for the chute, a drum for said cable, and means for simultaneously operating the chute winding means and the elevating cable drum.

4. A fire apparatus comprising in combination with a flexible chute and window sill hooks adapted for supporting the same, levers carried by said chute, double cords secured to the free end of the chute and looped over the said levers, lugs carried by said levers, a spring-pressed lock bar adapted for retainingly engaging the said lugs, and a pull rope for said lock bar whereby a disconnection of the chute and hooks is effected.

5. A fire apparatus comprising in combination with a flexible chute and window sill hooks adapted for supporting the same, pivoted levers carried by said chute, double cords secured to the free end of the chute and looped over said levers, a spring-pressed lock bar for engagement with said levers, and a pull rope connected to said lock bar whereby a disconnection of the chute and hooks is effected.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN NOVAK.

\Vitnesses FRANK SERAFIN, EMIL GnRMANUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

